“What do ye think?” came Henry again. Joseph didn’t miss the whisper of humor in his voice, but his attention was still too focused on Catriona. “Should we go down there and ask her what she’s doin’?”
Joseph turned away from the window, annoyed by how much effort it took. “There’s no need to do such a thing.”
“Ye’re clearly curious,” Henry drawled.
“Curious, yes. But not so much that I would let it disturb what I am doing.”
“Ah, only enough for ye nae tae hear a word I’ve said.” Henry chuckled as he followed Joseph to his desk. “I daenae ken who ye think ye’re foolin’. Anyone with eyes can see that ye?—”
“That is all you wanted from me, yes?” Joseph cut in. He didn’t need to hear where Henry was going with this. “If so, then you may take your leave. I’m busy.”
“Ye, I’m sure ye are.” Henry chuckled, clearly unperturbed by Joseph’s sudden iciness. “I’ll take me leave then. Do tell me if ye ever get tae the bottom of the mystery.”
Joseph ignored him, picking up the ledger that he had been in the middle of balancing before he’d gotten distracted by Catriona’s odd behavior. But the moment Henry was gone, he dropped the ledger, glaring at the window as if his wife was standing right there to receive it.
Enough. What she is up to is of no concern to me.
He attempted to focus again, but minutes later, he came to the daunting realization that he would not get very far.
Muttering a curse, Joseph shot to his feet and marched back over to the window. Catriona had disappeared.
“Good,” he mumbled to himself. “She must have decided to do something productive with her time.”
Or perhaps she had gone to another section of the garden to continue her pacing? What did she do with her time while here? As the master of the house, he supposed it was not such a bad thing to wonder about that, was it? Especially since he had promised to teach her how to act like a proper duchess. A proper duchess certainly didn’t mill around aimlessly like that where others could see her. What would the servants say? That he had chosen a madwoman to be his wife?
He swiveled on his heels, marching to the door. He was only going to find her and talk to her, that’s all. This sudden change in decision had nothing to do with his curiosity, nor with the fact that he had not seen her since that night in the library and had been constantly thinking about her ever since.
Joseph made his way to the garden, stopping at the path where he’d last seen her. One quick glance around told him that she was not nearby, but he continued all the same, delving down a stone path that would take him to the gazebo on the other end of the garden, just in case he found her there.
And he did. Catriona sat with her back ramrod straight, hands folded elegantly in her lap, ankles crossed and tucked behind her and her head hung at nearly a ninety-degree angle.
Panic sliced through him at the sight. Joseph inched forward, heart hammering all of a sudden. She didn’t move upon his approach, and he was almost afraid to say something, not knowing what to expect.
Suddenly her head shot up. Her eyes landed on him and went wide, a sharp squeal flying from her lips. “What in heaven’s name are you doing?” she gasped, hand flying to her chest.
Joseph released a slow breath, his panic and worry dissipating as his chest deflated. Why had he gotten so worked in the first place? Clearly, she was fine.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” he began.
“Well, you did a terrible job of it.” Looking a bit flustered, she pulled her shoulders back, visibly putting herself back together. When she did, she fixed him with a bland look. “How may I help you?”
Joseph cleared his throat, moving to the other end of the gazebo. It was only a couple feet of distance, but he needed it. There was something about the way she looked at him, about the persistent flutter of his heart, that made him feel unlike himself.
“I saw you just now, pacing back and forth for minutes on end. I came to see what could have caused you to act in such an unusual manner.”
“You don’t know what is unusual for me,” she pointed out.
“Am I to believe that you do that often then? If so, say so now so that I may inform the servants that you are still within your right mind. Mostly.”
He meant it as a jest, hoping to lighten the mood. God knew why. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cared to do such a thing, but when Catriona’s lip twitched and her eyes lightened just a fraction, he was happy that he had.
“I assure you that you are too late to stop the servants from thinking that I am odd. I have done quite a number of unusual things that would make my pacing just now look like child’s play.”
He raised a brow. “Including hang your head as if you’d fainted while sitting up?”
Those beautiful lips of hers twitched again. How hadn’t he noticed how perfectly they were shaped with a gentle cupid’s bow and a full bottom lip that had fit perfectly against his?—
“Yes, including that,” Catriona responded. Joseph blinked, forcing his mind to focus. “But I have done quite a few other things as well. I’ve walked the entire perimeter of the property. I have entered every room though I have no reason to. I even ventured down to the kitchen to take a long, good look at the fire in the oven. I gave the cook quite a fright, I’m afraid.”
